As a child, Jim Waddington accompanied his father when he delivered milk to customers’ doorsteps. The family owned Waddington Dairy in Mannington Township, N.J., and Waddington went from making milk deliveries to serving as general manager to becoming CEO of the dairy, which merged with Balford Farms in 1996.
“Managing multiple business units helped me develop different skill sets and analytical capabilities,” he says. He put those skills to use as director of the Salem County (N.J.) Economic Development Department.
Now it’s Kent County’s turn to benefit. Waddington is the new director of economic partnership for the Kent County Levy Court, the county’s governing body.
This is the first time there’s been a full-time employee in the position. Previously, the Kent Economic Partnership, a nonprofit organization, handled job functions. “The partnership will continue to function, utilizing county offices for support,” Waddington says.
The creation of a civil air terminal and the Kent County Sports Complex top Waddington’s priority list. An initiative since 2009, the complex, planned for Frederica, would have 15 grass and artificial turf fields. He’d also like to establish a revolving loan fund to support Kent County businesses as they emerge from the economic downturn and develop expansion plans.
Waddington is excited about promoting Kent County.
“I welcome the challenge,” he says. “Kent County Levy Court has an amazing planning division for a county government. It’s a professionally run organization that I’m proud to be associated with.”
